Kashmir records season’s coldest day

Srinagar, KMW News: As the harsh 40-day period of Kashmir winter—Chillai Kalan—is setting in from Wednesday, this summer capital recorded the coldest day of the season so far on Monday.
A meteorological official here told that Srinagar recorded maximum of 5.6 degrees Celsius, two degrees below the normal of this time of the winter. The capital had a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, a degree lower than the normal.
Pahalgam, the world famous hill station in south Kashmir, recorded minimum of 5.4 degrees Celsius and a low of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, MeT said.
Qazigund, the gate way town of Kashmir, also witnessed a chilly day as mercury dropped to 6.5 degrees Celsius while it recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, the weatherman said.
Another southern Kashmir region, Kokernag had maximum of 6.4 degrees Celsius while it recorded a minimum of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius.
Frontier Kupwara district in north Kashmir too witnessed a coldest day, recording maximum of 6.6 degrees Celsius while it had a low of minus 3.7, the MeT office said.
Gulmarg, the world famous ski-resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district remained the coldest in Valley. The hill resort, star attraction for tourists visiting the valley during winter, recorded a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius.
Ladakh region continued to reel under intense cold with its capital city Leh, recording a minimum of minus 13.2 degrees Celsius while second most inhabited place in the cold desert recorded a low of minus 12.0 degrees Celsius.
The mercury across the state is expected to drop by two to three degrees in next few days, the weatherman said.
Even though light snowfall in upper reaches and light rainfall in plains in expected on tomorrow (Tuesday), there is no relief in sight from prevailing cold wave, according to the weatherman.
“Cold wave will continue and the day temperature is likely to drop by 2 to 3 degrees in next few days,” Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus said.
“As a feeble low pressure system is building on 20th of this month, light snowfall in higher reaches and light rainfall is expected in plains on the day.”
“The cold wave will persist and there is no relief in sight for it is normal winter phenomenon and it will continue,” he added.